99 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; he said: al-Husayn ibn ʿAli al-ʿIjli narrated to me; he said: Abu Usamah narrated to us; he said: ʿAwf narrated to us; he said: Khalid al-Rabaʿi narrated:

“There was a man among the Children of Israel who had read the Scriptures, and he used that learning to seek worldly prestige. He continued in that state until he grew old. One night, while standing by his bed deep in thought, he said to himself: ‘Suppose these people do not know the innovations I have introduced—does not Allah already know what I invented? My end is near; what if I were to repent?’ So he repented.

His determination became so intense that he bored a hole through his collarbone, threaded a chain through it, fastened the chain to one of the pillars of the mosque, and declared, ‘I will not leave until Allah sees from me true repentance, or I die right here.’

At that time revelation was not unusual among the Children of Israel, so Allah revealed to one of their prophets concerning the man: ‘Had your offense been strictly between Me and you, no matter how great, I would have accepted your repentance. But what of those you led astray and whom I would have to cast into Hell? For their sake, I do not accept your repentance.’”